2018

Murdair Mhám Trasna receives History prize at Celtic Media Festival

TG4’s reputation for quality and diversity was further enhanced this evening with a Torc for excellence in history being awarded to Murdair Mhám Trasna.

Murdair Mhám Trasna is a feature docu-drama recounting the brutal slaying in 1882 of a family in and the wrongful hanging and conviction of those accused. Based on the critically acclaimed book Éagóir written by Seán Ó Cuirreáin and published by Cois Life, Murdair Mhám Trasna tells the story of barbaric murders committed in the dead of night in the midst of a rural community in Joyce Country, on the border between counties Galway and Mayo in 1882 and the subsequent trial in Dublin (most unusual for the time) which lead to the unjust hanging and life imprisonment of innocent people based on the testimonies of false witnesses, traitors and the dishonesty of the authorities and the gentry. President Michael D. Higgins signed a warrant on the 4th of April granting a posthumous pardon to Myles Joyce (Maolra Seoighe), who was hanged in the wrong, for the Mám Trasna murders, 136 years ago.

The Celtic Media Festival (CMF) is one of the most prestigious and long- established in these islands and is held each year, rotating between venues in the various Celtic nations and regions. It combines a three-day media conference that attracts broadcasters, producers, media and students with a competition across the full range of Film, TV, Radio and new media content genres. CMF awards are highly-coveted. Entries go through a national pre-selection phase with the shortlist from each country announced in February before advancing to the international Festival. This year’s Festival will take place in Llanelli in Wales from the 2nd to 4th of May 2018 (www.celticmediafestival.co.uk)

TG4 Ardstiúrthóir Alan Esslemont, congratulated the winning entry, saying that, “This is public service content of the highest qualityand I would like to congratulate all involved in the production team on a job very well done’” adding that TG4 is “gratified with this latest accolade from our peers in the Celtic media industries.”